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Roma goalkeeper and Sheffield United loanee Robin Olsen is set to have his loan deal at Bramall Lane cut short in order to join Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season.

What’s the story?

According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Olsen is set to make the move from the Championship up to the Premier League and become Steven Gerrard’s third signing as Aston Villa manager after the exciting captures of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne.

Romano tweeted: “Robin Olsen from Sheffield [United] to Aston Villa now at final stages, agreement in place. Last details to be resolved.

“AS Roma will cancel loan to Sheffield [United] and then will let Olsen join Aston Villa until the end of the season. Olsen already agreed personal terms with Villa.”

Olsen had spent last season on loan at Premier League outfit Everton, making 11 appearances for the Toffees as their second-choice behind Jordan Pickford.

The Sweden international was signed by former Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic as a short-term replacement for Aaron Ramsdale who joined Arsenal in the summer and has made 11 appearances in the Championship thus far.

However, it appears as though the 32-year-old will cut his spell in South Yorkshire prematurely and return to the English top-flight with Aston Villa.

Fans will be buzzing

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s status as first-choice ‘keeper is under very little scrutiny after another impressive campaign so far for the Villans with five clean sheets in 18 Premier League matches.

However, what Steven Gerrard does lack is a reliable backup should the Argentinian ever be absent from the Englishman’s side.

Jed Steer is currently the West Midlands club’s only other recognised goalkeeper and has only played two Premier League matches since Villa’s promotion in 2019.

With Olsen, Gerrard’s side will be better equipped should any factor that would make Martinez unavailable arise. Moreover, they will have a goalkeeper with plenty of experience, having played in Serie A, the Premier League, the Champions League and the Europa League.

There may be a slight concern regarding the fact that the 32-year-old hasn’t had the most impressive spell at Sheffield United, keeping just one clean sheet in 11 matches.

However, being a loan deal, it is an ideal solution to what is a major problem in Villa’s squad depth and the presence of Olsen will undoubtedly improve Gerrard’s squad.

In other news: Villa have “agreement†for £13k-p/w ace with a “big presenceâ€, Gerrard will be elated

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier could potentially join La Liga giants Barcelona next summer, according to a fresh rumour which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Meslier shines for Leeds

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the standout figures of the Marcelo Bielsa era at Elland Road, excelling between the sticks. He has now made 65 appearances for Leeds, proving to be a model of consistency and becoming the youngest goalkeeper in Premier League history to play 50 times in the division.

He has kept 23 clean sheets during his time in Yorkshire, which works out at approximately one every three matches, a very respectable return.

The Frenchman looks set to have a huge future in the game, and although his current Whites deal doesn’t expire until 2026, there appears to be some interest in him ahead of forthcoming transfer windows.

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The Latest: Barca linked with Meslier

According to pundit Gerard Moreno [via Planeta Barca and Sport Witness], who specialises in Barcelona news, Meslier is wanted by the La Liga giants due to the poor form of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

A summer move is mentioned rather than a January switch, although no official approach appears to have been made. Andre Onana, Koen Casteels and Bartlomiej Dragowski were also identified by Moreno as potential replacements for the £49.5m-rated Germany goalkeeper, who boasts 14 trophies to his name during his time at Camp Nou.

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The Verdict: Potentially huge loss

Much like a number of Leeds players who are highly sought-after, it is perhaps wishful thinking to expect Meslier to remain at Elland Road for many years to come.

That would be an ideal scenario, of course, but considering that he is arguably one of Europe’s best young goalkeepers – he has been hailed as ‘excellent’ by BBC pundit Micah Richards – it is easy to envisage him joining a top European club.

If Meslier does choose to move on, it is vital that Leeds receive a decent fee for his services in order to replace him with a similarly talented player and bring in other reinforcements. He is valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, so prospective suitors should not expect to get away with paying anything less.

In other news, David Ornstein has provided a key update on one Leeds player. Find out who it is here.

Speaking to inews, a Tottenham Hotspur source has broken some transfer news involving Bologna star Mattias Svanberg as Fabio Paratici enters pole position.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Serie A raids…

Since new manager Antonio Conte’s arrival at N17, Spurs and managing director Fabio Paratici have been linked with a host of names from the Italian top flight.

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Indeed, the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Stefan de Vrij, Franck Kessie and Lorenzo Insigne are just some of the star Serie A names tipped with a possible move to N17.

Even expensive stars like Matthijs de Ligt have got a mention through the media with Paratici and Conte’s pull showing no sign of ending as a source shares news on yet another target from that division.

The Latest: Source makes exciting claim…

As per inews, Spurs are favourites to sign Bologna ace Svanberg with the club even ready to make him Conte’s first signing of the new era.

The 6 foot 1 powerhouse, tipped to be a player Conte would especially like, has also been called ‘very talented’ by the outlet’s source with knowledge of the situation – who also says Spurs may see some ‘big’ changes next month.

“He’s probably one of the top four or five No 8’s in Europe – that’s how good he is,” the source explained.

“Spurs already know him very, very well because of the Italians involved in the club now. And it looks as though there could be some fairly big changes at the club in January.

“Anyone who has seen him play for Bologna will tell you that he’s the sort of player that Conte would enjoy working with.”

The Lowdown: Priority for Spurs?

The 22-year-old’s impressive form for Bologna earned him a call up to Sweden’s Euro 2020 squad and this could be an indication of his sky high potential.

In terms of creativity and what the midfielder could bring to Spurs, Svanberg’s fairly consistent average of 1.3 key passes per 90 in the final third this season highlights his consistent threat at a young age (WhoScored).

Only Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min have managed a higher number by comparison with the international ace also racking up three goals and two assists so far in Serie A.

Given he allegedly turned down a contract offer recently, Bologna could also be forced to sell for a cut price fee as his current deal slowly winds down.

However, given the lack of cover up front for Harry Kane and their potential need for another centre-half, Svanberg’s capture perhaps shouldn’t quite take centre stage – though he would be an astute purchase.

In other news: Tottenham also eyeing ‘special’ £30m ‘beast’ as reporter lifts lid on Levy meeting, find out more here.

An update has emerged regarding the make-up of new Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst’s backroom staff at Ibrox as he aims to bounce back from the Gers’ crippling defeat last weekend…

What’s the talk?

According to Gazet van Antwerpen, via Sport Witness, the Dutchman is hoping to complete a deal to land Royal Antwerp talent coordinator Zeb Jacobs in the coming days.

The report claims that there is a concrete interest from Rangers in the 26-year-old, who currently works on youth development with the Belgian outfit, and they are looking to finalise a move ‘soon’.

Buzzing

Rangers fans will surely be buzzing with this news as it suggests that van Bronckhorst wants to place an emphasis on youth development at Ibrox. Jacobs is said to have impressed Gers chiefs with his work in Belgium – developing young players and helping them progress into the first team.

This means that he could come in and help to bridge the gap between the academy and the senior team. Whether that means he will come in and directly work with the starting XI with a specific focus on the younger players or in the academy helping the stars of tomorrow push on to reach van Bronckhorst’s side remains to be seen, but it is good news either way for supporters who want to see the next ‘one of their own’ play at Ibrox.

Nathan Patterson is currently part of the first-team set-up and playing a backup role to James Tavernier at right-back and Jacobs’ arrival could potentially help him kick on and nail down a starting berth.

The likes of Juan Alegria, Aaron Cervantes and Tony Weston could also benefit as they attempt to make the leap from academy football to making their Scottish Premiership debuts.

This is why the Ibrox faithful will be buzzing with this news as it could see a number of young players make their way at Rangers, should Jacobs have the desired impact upon his arrival.

They will also be delighted with van Bronckhorst wanting to make this a priority as it shows that he is willing to offer chances to younger players and will not rely on senior heads to get him out of every situation.

It is now down to Ross Wilson and the Dutchman to ensure that they can iron out a deal with Antwerp in the coming days to bring him to Ibrox.

AND in other news, Gio could save Wilson millions with Rangers beast who is a “winner and warrior”…

Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley is a player Leeds United are targeting in the January transfer window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Barkley a Chelsea outcast

The 28-year-old has struggled for playing time at Stamford Bridge this season, starting just one Premier League game and finding himself way down the midfield pecking order.

Barkley may still have aspirations of making England’s 2022 World Cup squad, in order to add to his 33 caps, but will of course may need to play more for that to happen.

The former Everton man has been linked with a January loan move to Leeds in recent days, as Marcelo Bielsa eyes up reinforcements in the middle of the park.

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The Latest: Journalist confirms Leeds’ interest

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke confirmed Barkley is indeed on Leeds’ list of potential signings, talking up the idea of the move happening:

“I believe he is on their list of targets. Leeds have had a slow start to this season by their standards from last season and are sitting at the wrong end of the table.”

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The Verdict: Exciting midfield option

Barkley hasn’t fulfilled his huge promise as a youngster, having been compared to Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard, but he remains a talented footballer who could be a good addition at Leeds.

Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith described him as ‘tremendous’ during his loan spell at Villa Park last season.

Barkley would offer something different to more defence-minded figures such as Kalvin Phillips and Adam Forshaw, scoring and assisting eight times apiece for Everton back in 2015/16.

Granted, he hasn’t been as prolific since then, but his ability to create chances – he has averaged 2.5 key passes per game in the Carabao Cup this season – coupled with Bielsa hopefully improving him and re-finding that confidence in the final third, means he is worth the risk on loan.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Manchester City supporters have been left excited by a fresh update on their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Braut Haaland.

The Norway international has been heavily linked with a move to Eastlands since the beginning of 2021 as sporting director Txiki Begiristain continues his search for a new world class striker.

A City move for Spurs star Harry Kane failed to materialise over the summer while mooted attempts for Cristiano Ronaldo and Dusan Vlahovic probably came too late in the window.

Pep Guardiola, as a result, will have to improvise with makeshift options in a similar fashion to last season.

Judging by their latest outings, which includes a ruthless 5-1 victory away to Club Brugges in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, City aren’t exactly faltering in the attacking department.

However, Begiristain and co will eventually need to sign a natural successor to club legend Sergio Aguero as an update emerges on their pursuit of Haaland.

According to German source Sport Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness, City are ‘getting hotter’ in the race to sign one of Europe’s most deadly finishers.

It is also believed that the Sky Blues will have ‘no problem’ paying the €75 million (£63.2m) transfer fee required nor his ‘high salary’ – with super agent Mino Raiola believed to be asking for ‘up to €50 million (£42.1m) per year.’

Flocking to this update, it’s safe to say many supporters have been left excited.

Find all of their Twitter verdicts down below, where one fan hailed the news as ‘huge’.

Man City fans excited by Haaland news…

“YESSS”

Credit: @kunsologist

“huge if true”

Credit: @WildSZN

“LETS GOOOOOOO”

Credit: @stockport

“50m per year?

Madness”

Credit: @BlaqForeigner00

“He’s coming home”

Credit: @Ederson02116942

“Omg omg omg omg I’m on my knees”

Credit: @mcfclou

“Don’t Gas Me”

Credit: @IsaacMCFC

“The league ain’t ready”

Credit: @MCFCDON2

In other news: ‘Tears in my eyes’, ‘Huge’…Fabrizio Romano’s ‘great news’ has many City fans thrilled, find out more here.

Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece has claimed that former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is under consideration to replace Dean Smith in the Midlands.  

The Lowdown: Lampard’s Norwich talks

The 43-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea at the beginning of the year, has reportedly been in talks with Norwich City.

Smith is also thought to be in the frame at Carrow Road after leaving Villa on Sunday, and it seems as if Lampard is a name now being discussed by the Villans’ hierarchy.

He has had two senior jobs in management with Derby County and Chelsea, and it seems as if he could be a target for Villa alongside Steven Gerrard.

The Latest: Preece’s Q&A

Preece ran a Q&A on Birmingham Live on Tuesday morning and was asked by one supporter if Graham Potter or Lucien Favre were on the shortlist.

Here is what he had to say in reply, throwing Lampard’s name into the mix:

“I can’t see either, to be honest. I think Potter would be a good appointment if you’re asking me my opinion. I like his values. I think he’d jump at the chance as well but far from the top of Villa’s list. It’s all pointing to Gerrard. Purslow had a close relationship with him in that year at Liverpool and they’ve remained close. Lampard is also under consideration, as I understand it.”

The Verdict: Alternative to Gerrard?

As Preece claims, all signs appear to be pointing towards Rangers boss Gerrard at this moment in time, but it is interesting that Lampard’s name has now emerged. You’d expect that he could well prove to be a secondary target if a swoop for the ex-Liverpool capatain falls through.

The likes of Gerrard, Roberto Martinez and Paulo Fonseca all have more managerial experience than Lampard. The trio have also won silverware during their managerial careers, something that the 43-year-old is yet to do; so on that basis, a move for Lampard could prove to be a risky one, especially with Villa looking to make serious strides under NSWE.

In other news: Sky Sports drop live TV update on Gerrard possibly joining Aston Villa 

There appears to be ‘growing confidence’ that Leeds United could beat a number of top clubs to the signing of Espanyol youngster Mateo Joseph Fernandez.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Fernandez move

The Whites may potentially be looking at January reinforcements and one player they have been linked with is 17-year-old Fernandez.

The striker is yet to make a senior appearance for Espanyol but he is considered an exciting prospect with a bright future ahead of him.

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The Latest: January move incoming?

According to The Daily Mail, the signing of Fernandez could be edging closer, with Leeds confident that a January move will come to fruition.

The Whites are believed to be fighting off interest from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona, highlighting the attacker’s potential.

Fernandez reportedly has a £1.2million release clause in his contract that lasts until next summer, giving clubs the opportunity to sign him on the cheap.

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The Verdict: One for the future

While Fernandez wouldn’t arrive as an immediate first-team squad member for Leeds, he is someone who could be viewed as a long-term project, along with the likes of Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt.

It is vital that the Whites plans for life long beyond Marcelo Bielsa, ensuring they don’t stand still and instead continue to cement their place as a reestablished Premier League outfit.

In other news, one Leeds player has ‘a lot to improve’, according to a pundit. Find out who it is here.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in a deal to bring Vitinha back to Molineux.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese publication Record (via Birmingham Live), who claimed that Bruno Lage’s side have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old in action for FC Porto ahead of a potential swoop for the midfielder in January.

The report added that a number of other clubs are also interested in the Portugal under-21 international, with Valencia, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad all believed to have sent scouts to watch Vitinha this season.

However, Wolves’ previous relationship with the player, in addition to him being a client of Jorge Mendes, is viewed as giving the Premier League side an advantage in the race for his signature.

Shi must move

While Vitinha was only handed five Premier League starts during his loan spell at Wolves last season, with the midfielder going on to make a further 14 appearances from the bench, it is undeniable that the 21-year-old seems a player who boasts a tremendous amount of potential.

Indeed, upon his arrival at the club in September 2020, Jeff Shi stated his belief that: “Vitinha is a crucial signing and an integral component in our recruitment plan for this summer. He is an exciting and special young talent, with an abundance of technique and creativity.”

While Wolves ultimately did not exercise their €20m (£17m) option to purchase the midfielder at the end of last season, Vitinha has already started to prove that this decision was a big mistake on the part of Shi.

Indeed, over his five league appearances this term, the £6.3m-rated man has taken 2.4 shots, made 2.2 key passes, 1.8 interceptions and 1.2 tackles and won 5.6 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 21-year-old, who has drawn strong comparisons to Joao Moutinho, average a SofaScore match rating of 7.78, ranking him not only as Sergio Conceicao’s top performer in the league but also as the best player in the entire Portuguese top flight.

Wolves have been rather lacking in creativity from midfield so far this season, with Ruben Neves’ 1.4 key passes being the most of Lage’s midfielders. With the 45-year-old only having four options to call upon in the middle of the park, a move for the €40k-per-week (£34k-per-week) Vitinha this January would appear to be a very wise move for Shi indeed.

In other news: Lage could save Fosun millions with “outstanding” 23 y/o, he’s just what Wolves need

Sharon Brown is in line to take over from Ian Bankier as Celtic chairman, according to Give Me Sport.

The Lowdown: McKay’s exit; McGowan reveal

It has been a busy seven days at Parkhead both on and off the pitch. Dominic McKay left his position as CEO after 72 days in the role, with the Hoops citing personal reasons for his departure and placing Michael Nicholson in interim charge.

Stephen McGowan then claimed last weekend that Bankier is set to be replaced in his position as chairman after almost 10 years in charge.

It appears as if his replacement will be an internal one, with Brown a current non-executive director.

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The Latest: Hodge’s comments

Give Me Sport shared a story on Friday where they spoke to journalist Stuart Hodge.

Hodge said he’s ‘been hearing’ of an internal appointment to replace Bankier and cited Brown’s name.

“I’ve been hearing that it’s going to be someone who is already internally on the board that will probably replace Ian Bankier as chairman.

“That will be the political move that makes Celtic look like they appreciate the need for a refresh.

“Sharon Brown is expected to be the person in some quarters. That’s not something that’s rock solid but, just talking to people, it seems to be the thinking. So if Bankier goes, it’s like ‘the King is dead, long live the Queen’. That’s what you’re essentially looking at.

“Nothing’s really changing there – just a name, just a figurehead.

“But there needs to be a move to a 21st century sporting model. That’s it.

“I don’t see Celtic, with the current board that they’ve got, doing that and that’s the big problem at the football club.”

The Verdict: Plenty of changes

Rewind 12 months and you can appreciate the change at Celtic Park. A new manager has arrived in Ange Postecoglou, Peter Lawwell has resigned as CEO, his replacement has now left and the Hoops also now look set to have a new chairman.

Only time will tell how much of an impact Bankier’s exit will have and if Brown is the right replacement, but it could turn out to be a wise move making an internal appointment following a year of change.

In other news: Devlin’s worrying 8-word Celtic update on Giakoumakis minutes before Betis defeat.